Happy May Day!
May Day for some people is a day to begin putting spring planters in their yards, planting vegetable gardens, and for some of us growing up it was even a tradition and a fun day to ring doorbells on porches and run away and/or leave without ringing the door bell to leave a surprise for neighbors, family, and friends. The surprise typically was a spring flower bouquet/basket of garden decor/gift, or a favorite homemade sweet/dessert usually left anonymously for a special person that deserved to be recognized and to bring happiness and good cheer to someone.
May Day also is a day of special events and continue activities all month as well. For new neighbors and families looking for something fun to do, listed are a few May events and activities to possibly explore locally and remember that Mother’s Day is Sunday May 9th:
- Saturday May 1st – Also, ongoing throughout the spring, summer, and fall too. Blaine Farmers Market 10-3 Located on H Street & G Street Plaza close to many of the restaurants as well. Local arts and crafts for sale. Plus, a great place to pick up some gifts, park, and take a walk to the Blaine Harbor after shopping.
- Saturday May 1st – Vintage Garden and Plant Sale 2524 Victor Street in Bellingham between 10-1. There will be lots of Plant Starts Such as Tomatoes, Delicata Squash, Zucchini, Cucumbers, Honeysuckle Vines, Many Flowers, Seeds, Plants in Big Pots such as Peony & Shasta Daisies, Garden Art, and Vintage – Type Outdoor Items Galore too. The Vendor Requests that Everyone Wear a Mask for Safety. NO EARLY BIRD ARRIVALS! Cash and Venmo Payments Accepted Only.
- May 5th – 8th Wed. – Sat. Bayside Treasures Garden Art Show is a great place to purchase local gifts from a Blaine Artist for Mother’s Day. Hours are 10-5 and the location is at 354 N. Harvey Road, Blaine. Contact Jill for inquiries at (360) 319-1920 or [email protected].
- Saturday May 8th – Mother’s Day Event Bake Sale & Blooms with Vendors at Home Farm at 8020 Kickerville Road, Blaine from 12-4, plus check their social media sites for ongoing events too. Vendors will have Fresh Flowers, Baked Goods, and More. Enjoy your time here and grab an espresso from the Mobile Express Vendor too. This stand also sells local farm fresh produce and other items daily from a self-serve stand.
- Tuesday May 11th Italian Roadside Stand – Opens for the Spring, Summer & Fall Season Monday – Saturday 9:30 – 6:30pm, closed on Sundays located at 2983 Bay Road, Ferndale. Laura welcomes new people to the local area to come and visit the stand, as well as her continued buyers of friends and neighbors. There will be flower bouquets, (special event orders taken too), organic produce, indoor and outdoor plants and many perennials that she grows in her own gardens, flower seeds, rhubarb, and some gift decor items too for sale. The prices are such GREAT DEALS that people become regular customers and come a distance along the I-5 corridor to shop at her stand. She and her husband Greg are excited to open her stand for the 6th year now. Watch for the produce in late May and early June she will be selling her organic fruits and veggies. Cash Only.
Note: These are just some events to share and if neighbors have other listings of any events and activities to include, please send no later than May 27th for the June newsletter to [email protected] and feel free to include a photo as well.
Loomis Trail Golf Course Updates – Please Read Reminders and Updates:
Use of Pathways/Parking Lot Rules and the Loomis Trail Grill Updates:
Neighbors, please pay close attention to policies for the golf course property especially with many new neighbors that may not know this information. The policy for neighbors walking or riding bikes on the golf course pathways has not changed and rules need to be followed. (More recently there have been neighbors that possibly don’t know the rules.) Only paying customers are allowed on the golf course, regardless of the time of the day.
Neighbors are allowed to walk around the parking lot at their own risk. The golf course staff would like to remind all walkers that there is frequent car traffic around the parking lot and walkers are to move off the road when cars are driving by and passing them; plus to be on the lookout for hearing cars and visually seeing them as it is important for safety as a walker too. The staff appreciates neighbors respecting this. Please share this with your walking friends too, as not all neighbors subscribe or read the newsletter sometimes too.
The Loomis Grill is now open at 50% occupancy and will be open every day from 9:00am – 5:00pm. The hours and menu options will be expanding as summer approaches too. Anyone also that is interested in hosting a meeting, event, or wedding at Loomis Trail may contact Kristin Berry the Business Development Manager at the Silver Reef Casino. Her direct line is (360) 543-7235, or contact her at [email protected] for details.
Thanks to Justin Conlan of Loomis Trail Golf for sharing this information with our HOA neighbors. Please share this information with all family members and guests too.
GARAGE/ESTATE SALE INTEREST FOR 2021:
Is there interest in holding a one-time group garage/estate sale of neighbor households in 2021 that want to hold a sale as a neighborhood this summer perhaps in August? There needs to be an interest to discuss possibly holding one.
First, someone that would like to be part of the one day event (one of the homeowners that would like to participate) would need to step forward to be the Garage/Estate Sale Chairperson to take the lead on planning the event with other homeowners of the HOA to work with the Board of Directors for details involved such as planning a date/time to hold it, gate opening, parking requirements (no parking on the grass at all as all parking would have to be in pullouts and driveways for safety issues and not on the grass boulevards to ruin the grass as the upkeep is expensive), pandemic safety concerns, advertising on social media for those that plan to participate at their expense, and much more. A garage/estate sale takes proper planning. If interested, send your name, address, and contact information no later than May 27th for the next newsletter for a further update that will be posted if there is interest to pursue this. For anyone wanting to be the Chairperson, please mention this too. Send to [email protected].
Newsletter – Reminder for Homeowners That Have Single or Multiple Items for Sale:
As in the past, if any homeowners have items for sale because they are moving or just wanting to get rid of something they don’t need anymore, or perhaps they have a car/truck they want to sale items can be posted in the newsletter. Other neighbors have found this as a great alternative for selling items. It is easy to do, just provide a photo of the item, description, price, and contact information such as phone or email to contact the buyer and it will be posted in the next newsletter.
Flowers and Planters at the Gates:
- The WRS crew will be planting the main gate geraniums on Wednesday May 5th. Watch for the new flowers to add some beauty this spring and summer.
- Thanks to Paty Williams and the Sienna Court neighbors who have volunteered to help with the upkeep and plants that are in the whiskey barrels and planters at the east gate. There is no sprinkler system available so they need to be individually watered. The group of neighbors will be providing regular watering and plant replacement when necessary. A big thank you to all of you that are making the neighborhood looking great.
Dog Concern Reminders:
The neighborhood has not had any dog related issues for some time; however, dog poop has been seen in several areas throughout the neighborhood in the past three weeks in the grass boulevards and the sidewalks along Ashbury, Cambridge Loop, and parts of Castlerock. It is up to each dog owner to carry bags to dispose of their dogs poop at all times. If you are walking your dog in the dark evening hours possibly, play closer attention to this if your dog is walking late at night.
Dog owners must have their dogs on leashes when walking them too. There have been a few instances where dog owners are not following this rule while so many others do follow the rules. If in doubt about any rules, read your CC & R’s. Make sure that your visitors and guests with dogs are informed of the rules too.
Semiahmoo Updates & A Great New Place To Eat At – Shared by Tim Howe HOA Neighbor:
Do you have difficulty deciding on a place to eat at in Blaine, Birch Bay, and Semiahmoo at times or think about a place to take your out of town guests somewhere new? If so, did you know that the Great Blue Heron Grill at Semiahmoo Golf & Country Club is open to the public for dine in service and there is outdoor seating, as well as to go orders?
- Current Great Heron Grill Hours:
- Monday – Thursday Open from 11am to 7pm, serving lunch and dinner
- Friday – Open from 11:00am to 8:00pm, serving lunch and dinner
- Saturday – Open from 8:00am to 8:00pm, serving breakfast (from 8:00am-12pm)
- Sunday – Open from 8:00 am to 7:00pm, serving breakfast (from 7:00am to 12pm)
- Indoor Dining is limited to 50% capacity and up to 10 people per table.
- Reservations for tables are not taken at this time. First come, first served table seating.
- Call (360) 371-700r, Extension 4 to place an order.
Click here for the Great Blue Heron Grill menu
The Loomis Grill Expanded Menu:
The new expanded menu for the Loomis Trail will appear next month in the June newsletter. Watch for this and remember if you don’t feel like cooking lunch or dinner take a walk and check out the Grill to eat at some time soon.
Landscaping, Weeding, and Overall Home Maintenance:
Please keep in mind whether you are currently living in your home or not for whatever reason EVERYONE IS RESPONSIBLE TO KEEP UP THEIR PROPERTY AND YARD AT ALL TIMES and when other neighbors pay special attention to maintaining their yards, it is expected that everyone else do the same. Judy Hamner has a list of landscaping vendors and other possible vendors that homeowners may need to hire other types of repair service vendors to keep their homes looking maintained. Remember, it takes an entire neighborhood to work together ongoing to keep our HOA real estate values increasing. When a few neighbors, ignore responsibilities it becomes annoying and irresponsible.
Neighbors – Wishing Good Health and Speedy Recoveries to Many Neighbors:
Just wishing a safe and healthy spring and summer for many neighbors that have been sick, struggling with changes to their health, surgery recovery, and more. Check on your neighbors if you have not seen them out and about for a while. This might be the best medicine some neighbors need in knowing someone missed seeing them.
Also, there have been many neighbors that have needed Emergency Services with ambulances and the fire trucks coming through the neighborhood sometimes even weekly, so please always remember this when having guests over, an event at your home, a moving group helping with loading a moving truck that all vehicles are parked in the pull outs or in driveways, etc. so that our neighbors are served as quickly as possible with emergency services at all times. Thanks to all homeowners for understanding how important this is to those needing assistance.
June Newsletter Items Submission:
All items need to be submitted to me no later than May 27, 2021 to [email protected] by 5:00pm.
Happy May Day and enjoy your weekend in whatever you do!
Submitted by,
Kathy Barnes HOA Newsletter Volunteer Board Member Secretary
[Cover photo credit: Kathy Barnes]